Spring Breeze
Spring is always the best time of year at an animal shelter. Warm breezes that seemed forgotten after so many months of cold weather ignites a new found energy in both the volunteers and animals alike. It's the time of year where everything is new again and anything seems possible as we look forward to warmer weather. In a lot of ways it's a rebirth of nature.
Winter time at pounds and shelters is always the toughest time of year. At ARF it was particularly hard because our shelter was so old and cramped. When you put 15 volunteers, 15 dogs, and 15 cats into a couple of rooms for 3 long months, the idea of walking dogs in nice weather sounds really good. As we know, not all dogs get along with cats or even each other, but the idea of conducting our adoptions outside in ARF's open beautiful yard is a big hit. We still have the beautiful yard, but the shelter is no longer there. Unless you're not from the area, I'm sure you've heard about ARF's fire on November 23, 2008. The fire engulfed the building and destroyed the 35 year old shelter that had been serving the community in saving cats and dogs.
Once again this spring, when I felt that warm breeze I knew that anything at ARF is possible; that all of our goals will be reached. Spring is the time for optimism and a good time to set goals for the upcoming year. Our goal at ARF is simple - to open the new, improved shelter and start saving animals again. Being a lifelong Boston Red Sox fan, it's hard for me to get excited until a goal is fully accomplished. For example, in the 2004 World Series, even after Keith Foulke threw the ball to Doug Mien for the final out of the last game, I was still waiting for the announcer to say the play didn't count because of some old forgotten rule, even as the Sox were celebrating on the field. I feel the same way about ARF. Like the Red Sox, nothing is ever simple for ARF. Until we cut that ribbon and take in our first dog or cat, I will still be waiting for someone to say we forgot something, or we didn't have enough money. Such is the burden of being a Sox fan. But the Red Sox did win in 2004, and ARF will re-open in 2010. We only have that last mile to go now. The building plans were created, adjusted and then finally approved. We have the contractors ready. We bought the land. We have our blueprints. We just need one last financial burst to get us to the top. We are literally doubling the amount of animals that ARF can house and save with our larger new shelter. That also means we will be doubling our bills too. If you want to help ARF, please go to arfct.org and check us out. We are selling paver bricks that you can buy to help us rebuild. Your brick with the engraving that you choose will be seen and used for decades to come. You can also send a donation to:
ARF
PO Box 538
Thomaston, CT 06787
We at ARF are ready to help you and your animals. Please help us help our homeless animals. Their lives are depending on it.
~Joe, ARF
